KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck ran on his injured knee while leading the scout team through 7-on-7 drills, one day after league MVP Shaun Alexander tested his broken left foot by running through cones and cutting on synthetic grass.
But so far, it's all a tease. Coach Mike Holmgren doesn't expect to see his stars play until Nov. 19 at San Francisco at the earliest. And Hasselbeck said Friday he still has ``no stability'' in the knee.
Even so, Holmgren thought the last two days were significant steps for the Seahawks (5-3), who host St. Louis (4-4) Sunday with first place in the NFC West at stake and backup quarterback Seneca Wallace starting again.
``It's huge. You get your quarterback back ... no matter how well Seneca has played, it's important,'' Holmgren said. ``And the other guy is the MVP of the league. There's a lot of money sitting in that training room, you know.''
It's $31.1 million in guaranteed cash, to be exact - part of contracts potentially worth a combined $111.4 million that each has signed within the last two years.
Hasselbeck wore a black, lightweight brace over his heavily taped knee, which he occasionally appeared to drag as he moved through agility drills and dropped back to pass. He also looked winded and red-faced at times.
``Health-wise, I felt great. Performance-wise, I've got some work to do to get back out there,'' Hasselbeck said after throwing eight passes against Seattle's starting defense during red-zone drills.
Afterward, Holmgren said, ``We're thinking he could play next week.''
Hasselbeck strained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee Oct. 22 when Minnesota's E.J. Henderson rolled into the quarterback's leg following an incomplete pass.
Hasselbeck said that his body ``just could not get the ball there today.'' He lamented being late throwing to a wide-open Bobby Engram, who has been slow coming back from a thyroid condition and could also return next week.
Seahawks trainer Sam Ramsden is giving Hasselbeck daily goals, such as running in a swimming pool, 45 minutes riding an exercise bike and striding on a treadmill or elliptical trainer.
``The next step probably for me will be trying to run with some change of direction,'' he said.
Hasselbeck said he's been able to remain patient during his rehabilitation because Wallace has played so well. In Wallace's first two NFL starts, he was 33-for-60 passing for 374 yards with four touchdown passes and two interceptions. Seattle is 1-1 in those starts and 2-3 without Alexander.
Alexander rested Friday - one day after his first on-field work since he broke the foot Sept. 24 against the New York Giants.
``He came out of it OK,'' Holmgren said. ``We've got our fingers crossed. Hopefully, we'll get them both back next week.''
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